Spelling of plurals
The plural of most nouns is made by just adding -s to the singular. But there are some special cases.
Plural of nouns ending in consonant + y
If the singular ends in consonant + y (for example -by, -dy, -ry, -ty), the plural is normally made by changing y to i and adding -es.
| Singular (… consonant + y) | Plural (… consonant + ies) |
|---|---|
| baby | babies |
| lady | ladies |
| ferry | ferries |
| party | parties |
If the singular ends in vowel + y (e.g. day, boy, guy, donkey), the plural is made by adding -s (days, boys, guys, donkeys).
Proper names ending in consonant + y usually have plurals in -ys.
- Do you know the Kennedys? (not
… the Kennedies?) - I hate Februarys.
Plural of nouns ending in -sh, -ch, -s, -x or -z
If the singular ends in -sh, -ch, -s, -x or -z, the plural is made by adding -es. Exceptions: words ending in ch pronounced /k/ (e.g. stomach/stomachs, monarch/monarchs).
| Singular (… ch/sh/s/x/z) | Plural (… ches/shes/ses/xes/zes) |
|---|---|
| church | churches |
| crash | crashes |
| bus | buses |
| box | boxes |
| buzz | buzzes |
Nouns ending in a single -z have plurals in -zzes: quiz/quizzes, fez/fezzes.
Plural of nouns ending in -o
Most nouns ending in -o have plurals in -s. Examples:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| avocado | avocados |
| commando | commandos |
| concerto | concertos |
| euro | euros |
| kilo | kilos |
| logo | logos |
| photo | photos |
| piano | pianos |
| radio | radios |
| solo | solos |
| soprano | sopranos |
| zoo | zoos |
Some nouns ending in -o have plurals in -es. The most common:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| echo | echoes |
| hero | heroes |
| potato | potatoes |
| tomato | tomatoes |
| torpedo | torpedoes |
| veto | vetoes |
The following nouns can have plurals in -s or -es; -es is more common.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| buffalo | buffalo(e)s |
| cargo | cargo(e)s |
| mosquito | mosquito(e)s |
| motto | motto(e)s |
| tornado | tornado(e)s |
| volcano | volcano(e)s |